Inter-locking rotor assembly

ABSTRACT

A basket for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger in which the several baskets thereof are pivotally supported outward from a central rotor post. The baskets have walls that overlap the walls of a basket adjacent thereto to preclude the leakage of fluid between the pivotally held baskets. The separate baskets cooperate with one another to produce a composite unit that is structurally strong while it permits a limited amount of independent movement of the separate baskets.

United States Patent 1191 [4 June 25, 1974 Finnemore 1 INTER-LOCKING ROTOR ASSEMBLY 3,545,552 12/1970 Waitkus 165/10 x Inventor: Harlan E. Finnemore, wensvine, 3,710,850 [/1973 Kurschner et a1. [65/10 X Primary ExaminerAlbert w. Davis, Jr. [73] Assignee: The Air Preheater Company, Attorney, Agent, or FirmWayne l-l. Lang Wellsville, NY. [22 Filed: Nov. 13, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT A basket for a rotary regenerative heat exchanger in [21] Appl 306361 which the several baskets thereof are pivotally supported outward from a central rotor post. The baskets [52] US. Cl. 165/9 have walls that'overlap the walls of a basket adjacent [51] Int. Cl. F28d 19/00 thereto to preclude the leakage of fluid between the [58] Field of Search 165/8, 9, 10 pivotally held baskets. The separate baskets cooperate with one another to produce a composite unit that is [56] References Cited structurally strong while it permits a limited amount of UNITED STATES PATENTS independent movement Of the separate baskets. 3,216,486 11/1965 Hall et a1. 165/8 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures C004 AIR l INTER-LOCKING ROTOR ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an element basket or container for the heat absorbent element of a rotary regenerative heat exchanger. More particularly the present invention is directed to an element basket having side walls that interlock with the walls of a basket adjacent thereto to produce a labyrinth type seal that precludes the flow of fluid through the space between adjacent baskets. Moreover, the baskets are symmetrical whereby they may be removed and replaced in the same or reverse manner without affecting adjacent basket modules, the flow of fluid therethrough or the sealing relationship therebetween.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore relates to an imperforate enclosure that surrounds a mass of heat absorbent element in a rotary regenerative heat exchanger to direct the flow of air and gas therethrough.

More particularly,-the present invention relates to a basket for a rotor of a rotary regenerative heat exchanger that may be assembled together with similar baskets to produce a composite enclosure whose separate parts intermesh in a manner that prevents the direct flow of fluid through the walls thereof.

The distinct parts of the baskets that comprise the invention are adapted to be assembled by the use of a minimum of welding or other mechanical bonding means whereby the baskets may be freely removed and replaced to provide optimum flow conditions. Moreover, the baskets are constructed symmetrically with respect to their longitudinal axis whereby they may be reversed without altering the sealing relationship therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more complete understanding of my invention may be realized by referring to the following description with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of a rotary regenerative heat exchanger constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is .an enlarged perspective view of a grouping of four adjacent element baskets showing the relationship therebetween, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of abutting baskets.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention generally defines a housing enclosing a rotor having a plurality of sector shaped baskets that laterally abut to form an annular layer of heat exchange I element lying about the rotor.

A mass of heat exchange element 18 is alternately contacted by a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated in order that heat from the exhaust gas is utilized. To effect this transfer of heat the heat exchange element 18 is contacted by a stream of hot gas entering housing 22 through an inlet duct 24 is exhausted through an outlet duct 26 after having traversed the heat exchange element in the baskets therebetween. Cool air, or other gas entering the housing through an inlet 28 is also exhausted to an outlet duct 32 after having traversed the heat absorbent material of the rotor. While the hot gas and cool air arebeing directed through their particular passageways of the rotor, the rotor is being slowly and continuously rotated about its central axis by a drive means 34 that is connected to a central rotor post 36 in order that each portion of the heat absorbent element contained in the rotor may be alternately placed in the hot gas and the cooler air.

. The heat absorbent material 18 is carried by the rotor comprises essentially a mass of metallic plates that are placed in juxtaposition with projections on the plates or spacers otherwise provided to form fluid passageways therebetween for the flow of the hot and cooler fluids.

In current heat exchanger design paractice, the element 18 carried in the baskets while the radial inner end of each basket is pivotally connected to a central rotor post to permit limited relative movement between the central rotor post 36 and each basket 14. In order that the heat absorbent capacity of the element mass within the rotor of a heat exchanger is adequate for its projected use, various layers of element baskets may be axially spaced along the rotor post to comprise a composite rotor of predetermined capacity. While a rotor shaped element basket so as to prevent thermal distortion thereof while it precludes fluid flow betweenthe individual baskets of the rotor.

According to this invention, the element 18 is carried in independent baskets 14 that include radial side walls 40 joined by an inner end plate 38 and an outer end plate of arcuate configuration that abuts the end of an adjacent basket to comprise an annular rotor shell.

Each basket is provided with a pivotal means 44 whereby it may be independently attached to a central rotor post 36 to permit growth or contraction of the element baskets and/or the rotor post without adversely affecting the relationship therebetween.

One side 40 of each basket is provided with a radial flange 46-A that extends axially in one direction, while the spaced side of the same basket includes a flange 46-B that extends axially in the opposite direction. When a series of similar baskets are arranged in juxtaposition about a central rotor post they comprise an annular layer with a series of flanges 46-A that extend axially from one radial wall and a similar series of radial flanges 46-B extending axially from the spaced end thereof. A similar arrangement of sector shaped baskets that comprise an independent layer may be axially spaced along the same rotor post so that the flanges 46-A and 46-8 are arranged in a side-by-side relationship in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

To preclude fluid flow or leakage between baskets of the rotor I provide elongate sealing strips 52 bent laterally to form resilient leaf seals that fit intermediate adjoining baskets. These strips are spot welded as at 54 or otherwise bonded to the outer wall of one basket while the flanged edges thereof provide spring leaves that rub against the structure of an adjacent basket or that of an adjacent seal in the manner shown by FIG. 3 to obstruct fluid flow.

The exact size or shape of the sealing leaves is not critical however, the sealing leaves 52 abut laterally adjacent baskets while the sealing leaves 56 at the ends of the rotor are preferably formed with a flange portion that protrudes beyond the end of the rotor to engage fixed housing structure adjacent therto.

Since equivalent shapes of sealing means between baskets of the rotor may be freely used, it will be understood that this disclosure is illustrative only of a preferred means that embodies the invention. The invention will therefore be determined only the the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

l. A rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus having a rotor with a central rotor post, a plurality of independent sector shaped element baskets pivotally baskets of the first element layer, a mass of heat absorbent material carried in the baskets of the rotor, housing means surrounding the rotor having end plates with openings for a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated, means for rotating the rotor about its axis to align the heating element of the rotor alternately with the heating fluid and the fluid to be heated, said baskets comprised of radially extending partitions joined by inner and outer peripheral walls, and a flange on each radial partition extending laterally and axially toward an adjacent layer of the rotor structure to provide a labyrinth type seal, said flanges on adjacent partitions being oppositely disposed and laterally displaced to contact one another to preclude the flow of fluid between adjacent baskets.

2. A rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein spaced flanges of each basket extend axially in opposite directions. 

1. A rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus having a rotor with a central rotor post, a plurality of independent sector shaped element baskets pivotally attached to the rotor post arranged in lateral juxtaposition around the rotor to comprise a first element layer of the rotor, a second layer of element baskets depending from the rotor post axially aligned with the element baskets of the first element layer, a mass of heat absorbent material carried in the baskets of the rotor, housing means surrounding the rotor having end plates with openings for a heating fluid and a fluid to be heated, means for rotating the rotor about its axis to align the heating element of the rotor alternately with the heating fluid and the fluid to be heated, said baskets comprised of radially extending partitions joined by inner and outer peripheral walls, and a flange on each radial partition extending laterally and axially toward an adjacent layer of the rotor structure to provide a labyrinth type seal, said flanges on adjacent partitions being oppositely disposed and laterally displaced to contact one another to preclude the flow of fluid between adjacent baskets.
 2. A rotary regenerative heat exchange apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein spaced flanges of each basket extend axially in opposite directions. 